GADWALL DUCK. 255 



received on this subject, by observing the manners of individuals of all 

 these species before my departure from that country. After a continuance 

 of rainy weather, Gad walls are found in great numbers on the vast prairies 

 of Oppelousas and Attacapas, where I have been told they continue until 

 very late in spring, and some remain to breed. 



This species dives well on occasion, especially on being wounded. At the 

 appearance of danger, it rises on wing — whether from the ground or from 

 the water — at a single spring, in the manner of the Mallard, and, like it also, 

 ascends almost perpendicularly for several yards, after which it moves off in 

 a direct course with great celerity. I have never seen it dive on seeing the 

 flash of the gun; but when approached it always swims to the opposite part 

 of the pond, and, when the danger increases, flies off. On being wounded, 

 it sometimes by diving makes its escape among the grass, where it squats 

 and remains concealed. It walks with ease, and prettity, often making 

 incursions upon the land, when the ponds are not surrounded by trees, for 

 the purpose of searching for food. It nibbles the tender shoots and blades 

 of grasses with apparent pleasure, and will feed on beech-nuts, acorns, and 

 seeds of all kinds of graminese, as well as on tadpoles, small fishes, and 

 leeches. After rain it alights in the corn-fields, like the Mallard, and picks 

 up the scattered grains of maize. The common notes or cry of the female 

 have a considerable resemblance to those of the female Mallard; but the cry 

 of the male is weaker as in that species. 



It is by no means shy in the Western Country, where I have often found 

 it associating with other species, which would leave the pond before it. 

 Near the sea, however, it is much more wary, and this no doubt on account 

 of the greater number of persons who there follow shooting as a regular and 

 profitable employment. From the following note of my friend Dr. Bach- 

 man, you may judge how easily this fine species might be domesticated. 



"In the year 1812, I saw in Dutchess county, in the State of New York, 

 at the house of a miller, a fine flock of Ducks, to the number of at least 

 thirty, which, from their peculiar appearance, struck me as differing from 

 any I had before seen among the different varieties of the tame Duck. On 

 inquiry, I was informed that three years before, a pair of these Ducks had 

 been captured in the mill-pond, whether in a trap, or by being wounded, I 

 cannot recollect. They were kept in the poultry-yard, and, it was said, 

 were easily tamed. One joint of the wing was taken off, to prevent their 

 flying away. In the following spring they were suffered to go into the pond, 

 and they returned daily to the house to be fed. They built their nest on 

 the edge of the pond, and reared a large brood. The young were perfectly 

 reconciled to domestication, and made no attempts, even at the migratory 

 season, to fly away, although their wings were perfect. In the following 



